Policy Advice

World Summit on Food Security, FAO, 2009

A policy can be best described as a framework or strategy, giving a broad outline of the direction and proposed development of a particular sector. It is formulated by central government from within a particular ministry to regulate the performance of individual sectors. Policies often focus on creating a strategy which will arrest the decline of a specific sector or redress the imbalances which have occurred as a result of market forces.

The challenge in rural finance is for policies that promote the development of a variety of viable financial institutions that are client oriented, mobilise deposits efficiently and provide access to loans for a broad spectrum of farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs and other rural clients. Agricultural policies are needed which promote the development of profitable farming and these must be supported by road improvements in rural areas. Governments can use their powers regarding taxation, subsidisation, regulation and enforcement to influence the direction of desired developments. Donors also have the potential to influence policy decisions and can play a key role in improving the enabling environment for effective rural financial intermediation to develop.

You can browse for resources in the different sub-topics listed on the side navigation bar. Here at the top level you can find a selection of documents that illustrate the process of policy-making and the broad issues with which they may be concerned in the field of financial sector development and rural financial markets in particular.

Library Resources

The 2015 edition of the Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation report covers OECD member countries and emerging economies. It is a unique source of up-to-date estimates of global support to agriculture. In July 2015, the new Producer Support Estimate Database and summary highlights of the upcoming Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2015 were launched. The full report will become available in the fall.

The new data run through 2014, and cover all OECD countries as well as Brazil, China, Indonesia, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Kazaksthan, and South Africa. One of the main findings is that average levels of support to agricultural producers in OECD countries and in emerging economies are converging. The OECD recommends that countries put more effort into refocusing agricultural policies to address long-term needs for improving the productivity and sustainability performance of agriculture, to help it face the multiple challenges ahead.

This annual publication provides information on policy developments and related support to agriculture in OECD countries and selected partner economies, measured with the OECD Producer Support Estimate methodology.

West African Agriculture is at a turning point. The combination of strong demand growth, sustained economic growth, higher global agricultural prices, and an improved policy environment has generated the most conducive conditions for Agricultural growth in over 30 years. West African countries and their Development Partners now clearly recognize the sector’s vital importance for broad-based growth, food security, improved nutrition and poverty reduction. At the same time, a combination of old and new challenges ranging from climate change to increased price volatility threaten the ability of West Africans to seize these opportunities.

In view of the challenges and opportunities facing West African Agriculture, the African Development Bank (AfDB), with support from the Government of France, partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to conduct a joint analytical study entitled Agricultural Growth in West Africa (AGWA): Market and Policy Drivers. The study contributes to a better understanding of the evolving context for growth in West Africa’s agrifood sector by: (1) examining the drivers and trends affecting the demand for and supply of agrifood products, (2) evaluating the performance of the Agricultural sector and related policies in the light of those trends and (3) distilling the main implications for future policy priorities.

Search Library Resources

Library Reference

DEDICATED

to the dissemination of cutting-edge knowledge

ABOUT RFILC

The Rural Finance & Investment Learning Centre is a platform where training, resources, news and events related to rural finance and investment are shared with a vast network of professionals around the world.